Sports History Network

Sports History Network

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Sports History Network episodes

  • This Week in NDN All-Stars History: Rudy York, Pepper Martin, Charles Bender & More

    NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    World Series heroics, golf championships, football history, NHL breakthroughs and more fill this week in NDN All-Stars History.

    From Rudy York making the St. Louis Cardinals regret walking Ted Williams, to Tiger Woods adding more championships to his incredible career, Jim Thorpe and the Oorang Indians earning franchise history, and Charles Bender dominating the World Series mound, we travel through more than a century of great Native athletes and unforgettable sports moments from October 4 through October 10.

    Topics Covered

    Rudy York and his World Series heroics

    Tiger Woods winning on the PGA Tour and World Golf Championships stage

    Jim Thorpe, Joe Guyon and Elmer Busch helping the Oorang Indians earn their first NFL victory

    Charles Bender making World Series history

    Jordin Tootoo becoming the first Inuk to play in the NHL

    George Armstrong beginning his historic run as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs

    Rickie Fowler earning his first professional golf victory

    Pepper Martin starring in World Series history

    Bucky Dent delivering in postseason baseball

    Jack Jacobs rewriting Canadian football passing records

    Sonny Sixkiller becoming one of college football’s most visible stars

    Nicco Montaño winning her first major professional MMA championship

    Jim Plunkett leading Stanford past USC

    And many more moments from Native sports history

    SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

    If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

    NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

    Hey there—I'm Bill Black, and welcome to the NDN All-Stars Podcast. If this is your first time hearing about us, let me tell you what we’re all about.

    This podcast is where Native sports history comes alive. Each episode shines a spotlight on the great Native American athletes you should know—past and present. From Hall of Famers to hometown heroes, we tell the stories of Native athletes who made their mark—on the field, on the court, and in history.

    We keep it real. No sugar-coating. No museum talk. Just straight-up stories told with pride and purpose—because representation matters, and these All-Stars deserve to be remembered right.

    Some episodes are deep dives into a single athlete’s life. Others bring on guests—historians, authors, even the athletes themselves—who help us connect the dots between culture, identity, and achievement.

    Whether you’re Native, a sports fan, a history buff, or just curious—this podcast will give you a new perspective on what greatness really looks like.

    So if you're ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a little fired up—hit that follow button and join the team.

    You can find more stories, merch, and updates at NDNAllStars.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—just search for NDN All-Stars and you’ll find us.

    NDN All-Stars – Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Sports History Network Theme Song

    This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz

    https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0

    35 min
  • The Story of John Heisman and Pop Warner's Deception Feud

    Deception in football drove major rule changes, including the banning of a play that hid the ball under a player’s jersey. I recount how John Heisman and Pop Warner each claimed and traded that play for decades. We describe Heisman’s hidden-ball tactic at Auburn and Warner’s elastic garment trick at Carlisle that compelled rulemakers to act. I narrate the rivalry moments that followed, from Heisman’s 222–0 rout of Cumberland to Warner’s 32–0 victory with Pitt. We explain how both coaches also promoted legal innovations, such as the forward pass and the jump shift, which were later constrained. I conclude that their ingenuity reshaped the sport and that the rule book ultimately outlawed their most extreme devices.

    Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

    Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

    *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

    Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

    Contact us directly at [email protected]

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    I recount the rivalry between John Heisman and Pop Warner as a contest of invention, tactic, and consequence. I describe how both men embraced deception as a means to victory and how their experiments altered the game. I trace Heisman’s career across Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Penn, and Rice, and Warner’s path from Cornell to Carlisle and Pittsburgh. I explain concrete plays: the hiding of the ball under the jersey, the elastic seam devices Warner used, and Heisman’s advocacy for the forward pass. I note specific meetings between the two men, including the 1895 Auburn–Georgia clash and later encounters in Pittsburgh, and I emphasize how those games produced strategies that confounded opponents and prompted rule changes.

    I reflect on the institutional response to their innovations. I note the formal ban in 1910 on the disguised-ball play and the later restrictions that limited shifting and motion, such as the rule permitting only one man in motion. I describe how Heisman’s legal mind pushed for rule reform while Warner’s creative offense, exemplified by the single wing and pre-snap shifts, forced the sport to codify limits. I close by situating their legacy: they expanded the tactical vocabulary of football and compelled authorities to adapt the rules in order to preserve a balance between creativity and fair play.

    14 min
  • Chronicle Review of Al Davis and the Raiders' Legacy

    Guest historian Scott Perry explores Raiders history. He examines the Raiders as the Broncos’ chief rival and traces the franchise’s rise to multiple championships and its prolonged decline since 2002. I recount the team’s origin in Oakland, the impact of Al Davis, and the Super Bowl titles in 1976, 1980, and 1983. We describe pivotal games and moments that shaped the rivalry with Denver and influenced NFL history. I document the post-2002 downturn, noting only two winning seasons and sustained mediocrity thereafter. We also discuss my book that ranks teams by winning percentage since the 1970 merger and provides detailed team histories. I direct listeners to our website and show notes for further information and resources.

    Scott frames the conversation around his book, NFL Since 1970, which provides a visual record of franchise standings.

    Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

    Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

    *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

    Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

    Contact us directly at [email protected]

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    18 min
  • UFL vs. CFL- For the Intercontinental Cup

    Gridiron America is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    As we look ahead toward the CFL playoffs, and also deal with some technical issues, we look at the hoped for expansion of the CFL and UFL, and channel our inner Reid Johnson and Mark Perry, as we put on our tin foil hats and ask the question- "Will we someday get the championship game we were promised long ago when the WLAF was supposed to battle the CFL for alt football supremacy in the 1990s?"

    GRIDIRON AMERICA BACKGROUND

    Gridiron America (formerly, the From the 55 Yardline podcast), is anchored by former sports executive David Cieslinski, former international professional football player Mike Tackett, and football nerd Greg St. James.

    All three are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen or tabletop.

    Gridiron America Radio is dedicated to both current and historical American football talk, including the “what if” questions that all sports fans ask and try to answer with the help of statistics, math and computer modeling provided by SportsMaster Simulation Games www.SportsMaster-Simulation.games. In addition to the gridiron game, the team will on occasion look at other sports through the same eyes of that of grown men who still remember their childhood and the thrill of rolling the dice or picking up a joystick.

    The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose sports writing can be found at www.Adamsonmedia.com.

    David, Mike and Greg, can be contacted directly via the podcast’s website at www.GridironAmerica.net, as well as:

    On X at https://x.com/GridironAMRadio

    On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironAmerica/

    On Threads at https://www.threads.com/@gridironamerica

    On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gridironamerica

    1 hr 33 min
  • A Boycott Burst His Pole Vaulting Medal Hopes - But He Still Found Paradise

    Under the Radar is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Tom Hintnaus stood atop the pole vaulting world in 1980, but a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Summer Games derailed his medal plans. While he never won a medal, Hintnaus found a fulfilling life as Calvin Klein underwear model, longtime coach, and lover of Hawaii’s surf, sand, and sunny skies.

    UNDER THE RADAR BACKGROUND

    Under the Radar: Olympic Athletes Ya Gotta Meet is a podcast dedicated to highlighting the stories of unsung Olympic athletes past and future who are little-known and yet well worth getting to know. True to the Olympic spirit, these athletes have either demonstrated their heroism in past Games or have a chance to shine in future ones. Your host is Doug Levy, a retired sportswriter, reporter, lobbyist, and business owner who brings his love for all things Olympic Games to each podcast.

    Every month, Doug will help you learn about athletes who competed just outside the limelight – or have yet to bask in the media spotlight. Each episode will feature an interview with athletes about the Olympic Games journey they took or the Olympic Games story they hope to write. So, sit back and learn about some competitors that NBC-TV and the mainstream media either never really discovered -- or have yet to uncover.

    HOST - DOUG LEVY

    Doug Levy is a lover of all things sports with a special affinity for the magic that comes come with every rendition of Summer and Winter Olympic Games. A 1984 University of Oregon graduate, he began his career as a sportswriter and columnist, news reporter, and political reporter for two daily newspapers in Washington State. He then spent 35 years in government affairs and politics, including 25 years owning/operating his lobbying business.

    After retiring from lobbying at the end of 2022, Doug returned to his roots and spent two years of research, interviews, and writing for his first book, “Hero Redefined: Profiles of Olympic Athletes Under the Radar.” The book was published in late January 2025 and has earned words of praise from Olympic athletes and sports luminaries such as Sebastian Coe, Frank Shorter, Mac Wilkins, Mitch Gaylord, Willie Banks, and the President of the Golden State Warriors, Brandon Schneider. Doug lives just outside of Seattle, Wash., with his wife of nearly 40 years, Teri, and their dog Riley. They have two sons, Zach, 33, and Cody, 30. To learn more about Doug, visit www.authordouglevy.com

    HERO REDEFINED: PROFILES OF OLYMPIC ATHLETES UNDER THE RADAR (Amazon link)

    31 min
  • The Bears of the 1970s: The Worst of Times, and the (Almost) Best of Times

    Pro Football in the 1970s is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

    JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

    From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

    Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

    The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

    America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

    The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

    The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

    CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

    The Chicago Bears seemed to split the decade of the 1970s in half. From 1970 to 1974, they suffered through some very woeful seasons. Then from 1975 to 1979, they began becoming competitive again in pro football. Let’s take a look at the bad years first, because they would eventually set the stage for the overall improvement of the Chicago franchise.......

    Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

    PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

    Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

    Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

    During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

    Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

    Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

    9 min
  • Complete Week 4 NFL Predictions

    We present our Week 4 NFL predictions and emphasize that the league remains highly unpredictable. I and my colleague provide both straight-up and against-the-spread picks and note how our early results have diverged. We highlight the Thursday night Steelers–Browns game as an important primetime contest and offer split views on the outcome. Guest-host Ed Kleese joins us once again to help identify the Jaguars–Bengals matchup as an early-season bellwether for AFC contention. We discuss concerns about quarterback injuries, especially Jaden Daniels’s elbow issue, and we explain how such injuries shape team strategy. We conclude with specific game choices, acknowledge considerable uncertainty, and invite listeners to compare our picks next week.

    Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

    Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

    *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

    Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

    Contact us directly at [email protected]

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    31 min
  • The Lifetime Ban of George Steinbrenner

    On this episode we look at George Steinbrenner's 1990 ban from baseball after he paid a con-man to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield. We also talk about how the ban and the strict no-contact rules allowed the Yankees' front office to preserve young players and build the core that later won multiple championships. Finally, we discuss whether the ban ultimately helped or harmed the franchise and Steinbrenner's legacy.

    The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

    The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition Home Page

    THE MIXTAPE BACKGROUND

    Step into the time machine with hosts Scott and Derek as they dissect the most electrifying decade in sports history.

    90s Sports Mixtape is your weekly deep dive into the era that gave us legendary dynasties, iconic athletes, and unforgettable controversies. Each episode explores the stories behind the headline, from championship runs to shocking scandals, from breakthrough moments to career-defining performances.

    Each week on 90s Sports Mixtape, this Texas duo will break down the championships, controversies, and cultural moments that made the '90s unforgettable. Whether it's Jordan's Bulls, Aikman’s Cowboys, or the Trial of the Century of OJ Simpson, no topic is off limits.

    Expect deep dives, hot takes, and the kind of passionate arguments that can only come from two friends who've been rehashing these debates for decades.

    Subscribe now and relive the glory of the decade that changed sports forever.

    HOSTS - SCOTT & DEREK

    Scott and Derek first met at Blockbuster Video in college bonding over their shared love of The Big Lebowski. But during those long minimum-wage shifts stacking copies of Armageddon, they quickly found out they had a deeper affection for sports of their childhood and the players and teams they idolized.

    From Pete Rose to Nolan Ryan, Larry Bird to Hakeem Olajuwon, these two Texans have spent countless hours debating the top players and thrilling moments from their favorite decade of sports, making them the ideal hosts of The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition.

    1 hr 3 min
  • We Review Teams in Trouble and Those Making History in Week Three

    I state that week three of the 2026 NFL season produced several historical moments and notable upsets. We recount a rare primetime home collapse by the Packers and note that the Texans and Chargers sit at 0–3 despite historical examples of teams recovering from similar starts. I describe the Cowboys’ critical late-game time management error when they elected a touchback and failed to remove clock time. We note Denver’s back-to-back comeback wins from double-digit second half deficits and Washington scoring twenty points off turnovers for the first time in twenty-one years. I highlight that the Raiders and Saints tied the all-time mark for tight end touchdowns in a game and that Jameer Gibbs passed Billy Sims for second in franchise rushing touchdowns. We conclude that these events will shape narratives heading into week four and that we will present our week four picks tomorrow.

    Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

    Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

    *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

    Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

    Contact us directly at [email protected]

    Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

    20 min
  • Larry Costello: The Last Set Shooter

    Larry Costello was the last NBA player to employ the two-handed set shot. The one-handed jump shot had taken over basketball in the 1940s, but Costello was still using the old-fashioned shot even in the 1960s. Later during his tenure as the Bucks' coach in the 1970s, he invented the idea of watching game film to study an upcoming opponent, an invaluable practice now. While he may have been an old-school player, he was certainly not an old-school coach, and he was even inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor for creating the idea of studying film.

    Episode 207 re-air.

    CREDITS

    Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

    Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

    MUSIC

    ""Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic

    "Horizons" by Roa

    SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

    sportshistorynetwork.com

    sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

    FACEBOOK

    m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

    BUSINESS CONTACT

    [email protected]

    14 min

About Sports History Network

From the publisher's feed

The Sports History Network was founded in May of 2020 to bring together podcasters and bloggers covering the history of sports. Our mission is to create the Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear by…